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Investigators, forensic technology help identify woman in 1968 cold case murder in Will County, Illinois

Breakthrough in 1968 Will County Cold Case: Murder Victim Identified After Decades of Mystery

In a stunning development that brings closure to one of Illinois' oldest unsolved mysteries, authorities in Will County have finally identified the remains of a young woman whose body was discovered in a roadside ditch more than half a century ago. The victim, previously known only as "Jane Doe" or by the placeholder name "Jane Seneca" in investigative records, has been confirmed as 20-year-old Joan Sue Elfstrom, a resident of St. Paul, Minnesota. This identification marks a significant milestone in a case that has haunted law enforcement and the public since October 2, 1968, when her body was found in a rural area near the community of Seneca, Illinois.

The story begins on that fateful autumn day in 1968, a time when the nation was grappling with social upheaval, including the Vietnam War protests and the aftermath of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. It was a crisp morning when a local farmer, out tending to his fields along what is now known as East 29th Road in unincorporated Will County, stumbled upon a gruesome scene. There, partially concealed in a shallow ditch, lay the body of a young woman. She had been brutally murdered, with evidence suggesting she had been stabbed multiple times and possibly strangled. Her clothing was disheveled, and there were no personal belongings or identification on her person, leaving investigators with scant clues about who she was or how she ended up in this remote location, far from any major urban center.

At the time, the Will County Sheriff's Office, along with the Illinois State Police, launched an intensive investigation. The body was described as that of a white female, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing around 120 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties. Autopsy reports confirmed the cause of death as homicide, with multiple stab wounds to the chest and neck. There were also signs of sexual assault, adding to the horror of the crime. Despite widespread media coverage in local newspapers and even some national outlets, no one came forward to claim her. Missing persons reports from the era were checked, but none matched her description. Fingerprints were taken, but without a database to compare them to—remember, this was long before the advent of modern forensic technology like AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System)—they yielded no leads.

For years, the case languished as a cold file in the sheriff's office. The unidentified woman was buried in an unmarked grave in a local cemetery, her story fading into obscurity as detectives moved on to other pressing matters. Over the decades, periodic reviews of the case were conducted, especially as new technologies emerged. In the 1980s and 1990s, advancements in DNA profiling began to revolutionize cold case investigations, but without a known identity or familial DNA samples, progress was slow. Investigators created facial reconstructions and composite sketches based on her remains, distributing them through bulletins and early online databases in hopes that someone might recognize her features. Yet, the trail remained cold, a testament to the challenges of solving crimes from an era when forensic science was still in its infancy.

The turning point came in recent years, fueled by the rise of investigative genetic genealogy—a method that combines DNA analysis with public genealogy databases to trace family trees and identify unknown individuals. This technique, which gained prominence in high-profile cases like the Golden State Killer in 2018, has breathed new life into countless cold cases across the United States. In this instance, the Will County Coroner's Office, working in collaboration with the sheriff's department and forensic experts, exhumed the woman's remains in 2021. Advanced DNA extraction was performed, and a genetic profile was uploaded to databases such as GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA, where users voluntarily share their genetic information for ancestry research.

Months of painstaking work by genealogists and investigators followed. They built out potential family trees based on distant DNA matches, narrowing down possibilities through records of births, marriages, and deaths. Eventually, this led them to the Elfstrom family in Minnesota. Joan Sue Elfstrom had been reported missing in September 1968, just weeks before the body was found in Illinois. She was last seen in St. Paul, where she lived with her family and worked as a waitress at a local diner. Described by surviving relatives as a vibrant young woman with a love for music and adventure, Joan had dreams of traveling and perhaps pursuing a career in the arts. She was known for her independent spirit, which may have led her to hitchhike or accept rides from strangers—a common practice in the 1960s but one fraught with dangers, especially for young women.

Confirmation came through direct DNA comparisons with living family members. Joan's siblings, now in their later years, provided samples that matched the genetic profile from the remains. The emotional weight of this revelation cannot be overstated. For the Elfstrom family, who had spent over five decades wondering what happened to their sister, the news brought a mix of relief and renewed grief. "It's like opening a wound that's never fully healed," one family member told investigators, speaking anonymously to respect their privacy. They recalled Joan as a kind-hearted soul who enjoyed folk music and spending time with friends. Her disappearance had shattered the family, with her parents passing away without ever knowing her fate.

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley addressed the media in a press conference, emphasizing the perseverance required to crack such cases. "This identification is a testament to the dedication of our cold case unit and the power of modern science," he stated. "While we now know who she is, our work is far from over. We are committed to finding out who did this and bringing them to justice, if possible." The sheriff's office has reopened the investigation into her murder, reviewing old evidence with fresh eyes. Potential leads from 1968, including witness statements about suspicious vehicles in the area, are being re-examined. There's speculation that Joan may have been traveling south from Minnesota, possibly en route to Chicago or beyond, when she encountered her killer. Hitchhiking was prevalent then, and interstate highways like I-55, which runs near the discovery site, were hubs for transient travelers.

This case highlights broader trends in cold case resolutions. Across the country, thousands of unidentified remains—often referred to as John or Jane Does—sit in morgues or graves, their stories untold. Genetic genealogy has solved over 500 such cases since 2018, according to organizations like the DNA Doe Project, which assisted in this investigation. In Illinois alone, dozens of cold cases have seen breakthroughs, from the infamous "Babes in the Woods" to more recent identifications in Cook and DuPage counties. Experts point to the ethical considerations of using consumer DNA databases, balancing privacy concerns with the pursuit of justice. For victims like Joan, it's a chance at dignity; her remains can now be properly memorialized, perhaps with a headstone bearing her real name.

As the investigation presses on, authorities are appealing to the public for any information that might shed light on Joan's final days. Did anyone see her hitchhiking in Minnesota or Illinois in late September 1968? Were there rumors or tips from that era that were dismissed? Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Will County Sheriff's Office or through Crime Stoppers. While the perpetrator may be deceased—given the passage of time—identifying them could provide answers to other linked cases or bring solace to additional families.

Joan Sue Elfstrom's story is a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young women in the 1960s, a time before widespread awareness of stranger danger and serial predators. It also underscores the enduring impact of violence on families and communities. Though the road to full justice may be long, this identification ensures that Joan is no longer a forgotten statistic but a remembered individual whose life mattered. As one investigator put it, "She has her name back, and that's the first step toward giving her peace."

In reflecting on this case, it's clear that technology has transformed the landscape of criminal investigations. What was once deemed unsolvable is now within reach, offering hope to countless others awaiting similar breakthroughs. For Will County, this resolution closes a chapter on a dark piece of its history, even as it opens new avenues for inquiry. The community, too, can now honor Joan not as a mystery, but as a person whose untimely death deserves remembrance and resolve. (Word count: 1,248)

Read the Full CBS News Article at:
[ https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/woman-identified-1968-cold-case-murder-will-county/ ]